Thunderbirds Are Go

The Halloween Collection

2022 Edition

By Lee Homer

Disclaimer: All rights reserved. I don't own Thunderbirds and any of the characters involved. You know the drill. We're back for another collection of tales of the weird, the depraved and the paranormal. I hope you enjoy these stories and Happy Halloween.

The Minnesota Wendigo

By Kayo Kyrano

There are strange things that happen in our woodlands and forest reserves. Things that we can't hope to understand. Some creatures prowl around in the shadows. They can be malevolent with the intent to harm, or they could be there to observe us out of curiosity. On this particular night, I encountered something truly disturbing that I haven't been able to shift the incident from my mind. It began as a typical pursuit chase which ended in a night that I will never forget.

The story in question took place on a cold and foreboding night in Northern Minnesota. I was dispatched there at the request of Colonel Casey when a convoy, carrying GDF supplies was ambushed by masked raiders on a lonely stretch of road. Among the supplies were medical aid and food for some of their medical facilities. It was a pretty vital shipment that hundreds of people relied on, so when word reached Tracy Island about its reported theft, I jumped at the chance to assist in the search for the thieves. Mr Tracy agreed, but on the condition that Lady Penelope and Parker accompanied me. I'm not one in need of an escort and I can handle myself well in a fight, but Mr Tracy did everything he could to make sure that I was safe. Despite my objection, I agreed and proceeded to launch Thunderbird Shadow.

As soon as I was underway, I informed Lady Penelope of my arrival at our rendezvous site. We had planned to meet outside her hotel and pick up our investigation by road, so I did just that. I arrived outside her hotel by dusk and set my bird down in a field behind the building. My motorcycle detached from the rest of the craft as I steered myself around towards the hotel parking lot. I met her ladyship on the front steps as she shared some recent intel she had gathered about the raid.

"I've been in touch with the driver who was ambushed by the raiders," she said. "He claimed that he heard them say something about taking the truck west of here. The goods were tracked. Parker is currently plotting the coordinates in FAB One."

"FAB," I replied as I flashed her a look of determination. "It's a good thing that the stolen supplies were tagged. It makes our job a whole lot easier."

Parker's head emerged from the cabin of FAB One.

"I've plotted the tracer's location, M'Lady," he said. "It's coming from a desolate spot about 20 miles from here. I think we should call for backup if you ask me?"

"And why should we do that, Parker?" replied Lady Penelope. "We're quite capable of handing a few thieves, don't you think?"

Parker shrugged. He couldn't explain the uncomfortable feeling in his gut. I didn't share his hesitance at the time but wish I did. After all, he was right. We should have called for backup. Anyway, I climbed up onto my bike and followed the pink Rolls Royce out of the parking lot. The road grew increasingly dark as we traded the quiet, well-lit streets for the dark and sinister Minnesota wilderness. The drive took under an hour, but I remember feeling pumped at the time. I always got a thrill from catching the bad guys. As the road grew narrower and windier, I followed FAB One as it turned off onto a narrow dirt track. Keeping a close eye on the car, I followed it until we were completely enveloped by trees. I suddenly realised that I couldn't see the stars anymore. The dirt trail led us to an old disused camping ground. The grounds comprised of a log cabin and the remains of an old fire pit. The stolen truck sat parked at the far end of the site, partially covered by the brush. The raiders had attempted to hide it, but they didn't do a very good job.

I pulled up alongside the Rolls Royce and stepped out into the cold dead night. We couldn't hear anything. I felt as if we had been swallowed by something. It is such a strange thing to say, I know, but that's what it felt like to me. Lady Penelope gestured for Parker to follow her towards one of the cabins. She reached into her handbag, removing her compact stun gun. As they moved towards the first cabin, I headed for the truck. I wanted to expect it in case, expecting to see one of them hiding inside. People tend to do stupid things when they are scared, so I figured that hiding in the back of a truck wasn't so far-fetched. I approached the truck, half expecting to see one of the raiders lunge toward me, but it happened to Parker instead. One of the men burst through the cabin entrance, sending him tumbling into the dirt.

Parker wrestled with him for a few minutes until he was able to get him under control. Pinning him to the ground, he noticed that the man wasn't trying to run from him. He was trying to run from something else. The petrified look on his face told us that something was very wrong. As Parker helped him to his feet so I could slap the cuffs on him, he began to mutter a broken string of words.

"M-Monster! Please...We've got to get out of here! M-M-Monster! We'll be killed!"

"Cor' blimey fella. What have you been drinking then?" Parker joked.

We were both unaware at the time that Lady Penelope had stepped inside a cabin. She screamed before barrelling out of there with her hands pressed over her mouth. She had seen three mangled bodies in there. The bloodied remains spilt out all over the floor. It was such a graphic scene that it made me sick to my stomach as soon as I got to take a look for myself. The stench was indescribable. It made me want to vomit. It looked as if these men had been ravaged to death Their bodies had been sliced open by what looked like claw marks. One of the bodies had a gun in its hand while the other body had been decapitated at the neck. What animal could have done this? Upon examining the rest of the room, I discovered bullet holes in the far wall, along with a broken window which looked out into the dense woodlands beyond. I couldn't be sure, but I thought I had heard something crunch the sticks outside.

When I emerged from the cabin, still horrified by the grizzly scene, I tried to help Penelope compose herself. We had to report this to the authorities, but we couldn't just leave them there. As we went through our options, a large thud drew our attention. Penelope was the first to see it. I watched her eyes look skyward towards the rooftop before the colour ran from her face. Parker and the apprehended raider stared at it too. I turned around to see what it was they were looking for. A cold chill travelled down my spine. I looked up to see a large, skinny, spindly-looking creature perch itself on the top of the cabin. The cabin creaked under its weight as it regarded us with its black, soulless eyes. Slowly and carefully, I trained my flashlight on it so I could make out the rest of its horrifying details. It was very skinny to the point that you could see its rib cage. It had grey, oily skin, two large hoofed feet, long spindly arms with 10 outstretched claws, and a long thin head which resembled the shape of a deer or a stag. This was accompanied by the two, large, razor-sharp antlers which sat upon its narrow bony head. As it sat there and watched us, I realised that this creature was familiar. I had read about it somewhere, and I wasn't mistaken, we were staring at a Wendigo.

Now before you all jump to conclusions, just hear me out. I know it sounds crazy, but there have been a lot of similar Wendigo sightings over the years, particularly in the Minnesota area. They are one of the oldest and most legendary cryptids on Earth, dating back to the folklore of Native Americas, who hunted these 15-foot-tall creatures back in the early 20th century. They are known to shape-shift and prey on their victims, taking the guise of someone that they know and love. It is said that anyone who resorts to cannibalism will turn into one. The Wendigo suddenly stood on its hind legs as it let out this blood-curdling roar. I froze, gripping Penelope's arm. My heart was racing. I found it difficult to breathe in the ice-cold air. Everything in my body told me that it was going to attack. To be honest, it could have easily done so.

Yet somehow, it didn't. It growled at us again, only this time, it made the cabin shake beneath it. I regained control of my body and hurried Penelope towards her car. I pushed her inside and yelled at Parker to get her the hell out of there. Without uttering a word, he did just that. The sudden whoosh of his headlights and the grumble of his engine, startled the Wendigo, as it watched FAB One speed away, leaving me behind with it. I remained transfixed as the Rolls disappeared into the night. It was just it and I and it terrified me. I watched in sheer terror as it then leapt off the roof, slamming its hoofs into the ground. It then walked towards me, intimidating me with its 15- foot tower of a body. I thought I was going to die. I just couldn't function at that moment. What was stopping me from running? Did it have the ability to freeze its victims in its tracks?

Suddenly, it began to reach out toward me with its claws. I could feel them caress my face with a disgusting, ice-cold sensation. Just what was its curiosity with me? What did it want? I trembled at the thought of what it might do to me. This wasn't some creep or nut job I was dealing with. It then let out another snarl as it removed its claws from me. Snapping myself back to it, I jumped back, smacking my body into the ground. I could feel its dark and empty eyes peer into mine as if it was trying to access my thoughts or possibly feed off of my fear. Was that what it was doing? Then, as I managed to pull myself together, it began to make a shrieking sound. I kid you not, it was trying to communicate with me. It struggled for a moment at first, but it managed to blurt out a few words in a voice that I recognised. It had managed to mimic Lady Penelope's vocal tones.

"You should leave…" it said as its haunting words stabbed at my heart. "Go… NOW!"

At that moment, my fight-or-flight reflexes kicked into high gear. I scrambled to my feet and dashed for my bike, not once looking back. I mounted it and kicked the damn thing into high gear, speeding away from the site. As I put some distance between myself and the site, I could hear the Wendigo shriek wildly into the night sky. I couldn't wait to join the road and high tail it back to town. I was so shaken up by this, that I struggled to keep control of the bike. By the time I had returned to the hotel, I swerved and mounted the curb, hurling me over the handlebars and into the tarmac. I had injured my left shoulder because of this, but the sheer adrenaline alone had taken the pain.

I hobbled inside the hotel, ignoring the concerns of the hotel staff, who just wanted to help me. I didn't notice that I was bleeding at the time. It wasn't important. I just had to check on Lady Penelope. Fortunately, she was fine. She had been shaken by the incident and would later seek counselling to help her process what she had witnessed. The Wendigo, the ravaged bodies, it was all too much for her. I suppose I should have sought professional help too, but I was too concerned for my friend. The incident shook me up in a way that I can never get over. Not only had it touched me physically, but it marked me too. I spent the next few days in the hospital, recovering from my accident, although I couldn't sleep for days on end.

Scott came to stay with me for a few nights and I was able to tell him everything that happened out there. He believed me. I mean, he had his own experiences with these creatures, so he was foolish not to believe. He stayed at the hospital with me until I was fit enough to come home. I've been a Sceptic all my life, but now, I can't deny that these creatures exist. They're out there and they are real. I don't have all the answers, but I know that the Wendigo spared me for some reason. I wish I knew what that reason was, but I will never go back there again.

As of the time of writing this, I'm happy to say that Lady Penelope is feeling much better now. Like me, she too is recovering well and is due for a visit to the island soon. I can't wait to see her again. We've shared this horrible experience and because of that, we'll forever be close. Just beware of the woods that engulf Northern Minnesota. The Wendigo might be waiting for you.